ZW001
Nyanga mountains


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1998 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year[s] of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Scarce Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus LC resident (1998) present A3
Striped Flufftail Sarothrura affinis LC resident (1998) present A3
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus VU resident (1998) 4 pairs A1
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus NT winter (-) present A1
Whyte's Barbet Stactolaema whytii LC resident (1998) present A3
Dickinson's Kestrel Falco dickinsoni LC resident (1998) present A3
Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha VU resident (-) present A1
Olive Bushshrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus LC resident (1998) present A3
White-tailed Crested-flycatcher Elminia albonotata LC resident (1998) present A3
Miombo Tit Melaniparus griseiventris LC resident (1998) present A3
Briar Warbler Oreophilais robertsi LC resident (1998) present A2, A3
Chirinda Apalis Apalis chirindensis VU resident (1998) present A2, A3
Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti LC resident (1998) present A3
Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea EN breeding (1998) present A1, A3
Stripe-cheeked Bulbul Arizelocichla milanjensis NT resident (1998) present A3
Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla LC resident (1998) present A3
Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi LC resident (1998) present A3
Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana LC resident (1998) present A3
White-throated Robin-chat Dessonornis humeralis LC resident (1998) present A3
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata LC resident (1998) present A3
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi NT resident (1998) present A3
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis LC resident (1998) present A3
Eastern Miombo Sunbird Cinnyris manoensis LC resident (1998) present A3
Red-faced Crimsonwing Cryptospiza reichenovii LC resident (1998) present A3
Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia LC resident (1998) present A3
Broad-tailed Paradise-whydah Vidua obtusa LC resident (1998) present A3
Black-eared Seedeater Crithagra mennelli LC resident (1998) present A3

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2011) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2011 poor high medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no habitat good

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Grassland moderate (70–90%) moderate (70–90%) poor
Forest good (>90%) good (>90%) good
Wetlands (inland) good (>90%) good (>90%) good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Biological resource use happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1950 Nyanga National Park (II) 100

Local Conservation Groups

The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.

Name Year formed
Sanyatwe Site Support Group 2005
For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please visit Spotlight on local empowerment.

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest 100
Grassland major (>10) Grassland - montane
Wetlands (inland) minor (<10) Ephemeral pools and wetlands; Rivers & streams

Land use

Land use % of IBA
forestry -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
water management -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Nyanga mountains (Zimbabwe). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/nyanga-mountains-iba-zimbabwe on 05/12/2024.